Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-21
WASHINGTON.
Wire-PuIIi0g Well Under Way for the
Smithsonian Portfolio, Made Va
cant by Prof. Baird's Death,
United States Minister Harms Starts for
the Argentine Republican, Ex-
tradition Treaty Drawn Up.
i scnsation Caused by the Discovery
That National Banks IN tho Dis.
trict Pay 70 Taxes.
PROFESSOR BAIRD's SUCCESSOR.

PROFESSOR BAIRD'5 SUCCESSOR.
speclalto the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 90 As is usual in
such cases, the wires have scarcely
ceased working with the news ct PROBES
sor Baird's death before rumors IS to mis-
successor are thick as flies in midsum-
mer. His death leaves vacant the Office
o. Secretary OF the Smithsonian Institu-
tioD, the managing mead OF the institu-
ton, which ne has filed since the death
of Professor Henry, and the Office OF
United Ststes fish Commissioner. The
latter position Professor Baird has filed
since the office was created by Congress,
for which be drew no salary. The aspir-
suts for the position Of Fish Commissioner
without salary are few, Il any, but the
wire pulling for the SmIshsUnion port
folio is already begun in earnest. There
is little doubt, however, as TO who will get
it. For long time those who were in
position 10 know realized that it was but
question Of few months before Pro
fessor Baird would die, end it was 10 this
end that the board of regents Of the in
stitution sometime ago appointed MAYOR
+. B. Ferguson as Professor Baird'5 as
sistGut, in order that be might familiar
ize himself with the duties OF the Office
ia cese Professor Baird's illness proved
fatal.
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-U nited States
Minister Hanna leaves here tonight for
the Argentine Republic. IN cnat with
/ your correspondent the genial HC0sier
said that The Argentinians were very AK
| ious 70 establish closer relations with the
! United States. They are beginning to
realize, he said, met this country was
! one of the most important markets Tor
( their products This has been
brought shout largely by The iria-
sion OF american blood, greet
,aaE.sber CT our citizens nsving settled
Hthere within the last five yeGrs, and ia
! furtheranCe CT this policy Mr. Hanna
called upon the Secretary Of State yester-
day and submitted an eXtrkGition treaty,
which the Senate will be asked to r2tity
the coming session. Mr.. Hama, in be
half Of the Argentine Republic, has also
offered subsidy OF SlS+,0 900 for ten
! years TO any steamship company WHO will
establish line between their country Ind
the United States.
A WASHINGTON SENSATION.
/ WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-Quite stir
has been created III official circles by the
publication OF letter addressed to the
commissioners OF The District of Colun-
bia by r. A. Fish, assessor OF The district,
in regard to the payment Cf taxes by the
national banks u the city CT Washington.
From his letter it appears that these
banks have never paid doller into the
/ treasury of the district, though the as
! sessment list shows that $50, 900 per an
nun has been due for the past twenty
/ four years, making the sum o. $3.50 coo,
notirCluding interest and penalties under
the law Mr. Fish enters into Ge.ails,
and asks why OF entering mo the Office,
to which he has recently been appointed,
he finds these taxes unpaid. The
Commissioners referred t1i7 letter
10 the attorney Of me dis
tri2t, who being absent on }esye
MS assistant sad SCn-Jn-iGw, Mr.. Dl1is,
lrumpsd up q proceeding Of IN alleged
est case, which is said 10 have been
put mp lob of some eight years go. The
proof q this assertiau is shown IN t1e
/ fact that the Attorney OF the District, Nj
Riddle, did not carry the case 30 ca9 SU-
prems Cours Of the United ares, 8lere
! iud2Elng Of tie lower court. ia the
( CGtELCD VI -I6i-t CJH-u have br-I It-
versgd Every fort hiss been made 20
! have Ri35ia turned out OF otii;e. lie is
/ particularly offensive 10 Democrats %
! ne District. Che commissioners have
/ been appealed tc by prominent rssi-
dents or every sec.iCn to make 9 ch2D2e
in that office. Not only tha national
banks have escaped, bat Ell banks Snd
baking firms have been able 10 stave eff
their taxes. This can he said of all T2il-
read, steamboat and all large cor
porations Of the District. 1t is
very easy under the circumstances
to understand the high price at which
shares ere quoted by Washington papers
when these institutions psy no taxes, and
thus have en advantage over their tax
paying countrymen in paying high divI-
! yfstds and pling up 8 large surplus, in
great part due TO long continued aud
highly successful swiGdle OF the govern
ment by escaping payment of taxes Ie-
gally and morally due.
THE CRAWFORD CASE.
Special 20 me Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 The result OF
the Crawford trial was the msin topic of
conversation among naval officers here
to-day. Some say that the verdict OF
guilty was not justified by the evidence,
and that higher court will acqrit him.
The weight OF public opinion, however,